A Dozen Gift Ideas for National Park Lovers!

Do you have a friend or family member with a passion for the great outdoors? We have put together a dozen gift ideas which highlight the natural beauty of our National Parks. Some of the following gifts aid in the exploration of our parks and others provide wonderful keepsakes of past trips.

First, a little background . . . the United States has 60 protected areas known as national parks across 28 states and two territories. California has the most with nine, followed by Alaska, Utah and Colorado.  A bill creating the first national park, Yellowstone, was signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. The Organic Act of 1916 created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." 

1) First up are products from the company Parks Project. The two founders volunteered at a park several years ago and during that time, they learned about all the unique projects that need funding advocacy and support. So, they decided to do something about it. Each product purchased contributes directly to one of over 30 different conservancies across the USA, providing vital funding for the ongoing care of our National Parks. Their website showcases everything from beautiful beanies, to t-shirts and even a new corduroy hat collection.

2) The next national park gift idea comes from a brand new business called The CoinArt Company (yours truly!). The U.S. Mint began the America the Beautiful Quarter program to capture the breathtaking beauty of our natural landscapes. The program began in 2010 and five new designs are released each year in the order that they became a national park or historic landmark. The CoinArt Company not only offers individual quarters from the program (variety of silver, proof and uncirculated condition), but they also offer a way to relive an amazing trip with a customized CoinArt keepsake. In addition, you can incorporate your own artwork or photograph along with an America the Beautiful quarter with their DIY Frame and Mat Kits. The photo shown top left incorporates a beautiful illustration of Yosemite National Park by Erin Vaughn (see #9 below) along with a 2010 Silver Proof Yosemite Quarter and the DIY kit.

3) With the Pendleton National Park Blanket Collection, you can commemorate the epic beauty of these magical places in supreme comfort. Like all of Pendleton's blankets, they are woven in their own mill in Washington State. Each blanket is made of pure virgin wool and features an authentic Pendleton label as well as a full-color woven label depicting the park it represents.

4) This next gift idea comes from the Etsy shop, The Traveling Penny out of Charleston, SC. The National Park Coordinates Wrap Bracelet lets you wear your favorite park on your wrist! You just select the park that means the most to you and they will hand stamp the corresponding coordinates on a flattened penny. The style bracelet is made with soft, stretchy, recycled material and is perfect for everyday adventures. Each bracelet comes packaged on a National Park Collection card and includes your chosen location.

5) Perfect for the young adventurer in your life, this gift idea features an adorable National Park Coloring Book. Children can learn fun facts about each National Park included on every spread along with the state they’re located in. Designed by artist Tim Pacific, the coloring book is available from Parks Project which helps to support Art for Parks.

6) Our next gift idea also helps with children’s education. This 9 oz. Leave it Better Carabiner Mug is made of stainless steel with double wall construction. Just clip on to your pack with the carabiner handle feature – it is compact and perfect for hiking and camping! For every 10 products sold, $10 is donated to make a national park experience possible for a kid through the National Park Foundation’s Open Outdoors for Kids Program.

7) This National Parks Map of the United States was created by An Adventure Awaits and it provides you with a checklist featuring all 60 National Parks (including the newest 2018 Gateway Arch National Park). This print is a great way to keep track of your travels. After visiting a park, simply fill in the checklist box next to each park with a pen or colored pencil. Each National Park is listed alphabetically, numbered, and listed with the state abbreviation and year of establishment.

8) Another great way to record your travels is with this National Park Log Book. Each notebook is handmade by Gitchi Adventure Goods in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and features 60 pages with a dot grid interior for writing words or sketching pictures – one page for each national park. It is large enough to collect your memories and small enough to fit into your pocket (3.5” x 5.5”). While visiting Gitchi’s Etsy shop, be sure to check out all of their other travel and national park products!

9) What better way to plan your next adventure than with this 2019 National Park Calendar by the talented illustrator, Erin Vaughn. The calendar measures 9” x 12” and each month highlights a different park. It is available in several editions and the back cover includes images of all 12 national parks. The best part is after the end of year, you can incorporate the illustrations into framed artwork for your wall!

10) Another great option to purchase a national park T-shirt is through the Etsy shop, Journey Mills Clothing Company, a premium clothing brand from Los Angeles, California. They offer a wide variety of T-shirts and Hoodies for men, women and children.

11) Believe it or not, you can actually give someone a fully planned out vacation itinerary to their favorite national park. Through the travel blog and website, Dirt in My Shoes, founder Ashli Nudd, a former park ranger, shares her knowledge with the goal that every person going to a national park will have an extraordinary experience. Each trip itinerary is planned out to minimize drive-time and maximize sightseeing time. It includes day-by-day instructions, driving directions, tips for avoiding crowds, and an hour-by-hour schedule.  

12) To round out our gift idea list, Trailblaze Designs hand paints these rustic National Park Ornaments on a slice of beautiful Birch wood. Each ornament is made to order and a specific year can be added as an option. Measures approximately 3”.

We hope you enjoy the great outdoors in the coming year and happy shopping for your national park gifts. Thanks for reading until the end! If you are interested in #2 above from The CoinArt Company, please use the coupon code: COINART44FREESHIP to receive free shipping!